From the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
A last-minute attempt to cut the number of jurors from 12 to six in civil trials in the state’s circuit courts is one step closer to becoming law.
An initiative of the plaintiff-friendly Illinois Trial Lawyers Association that’s opposed by a prominent defense bar group, Senate Bill 3075 passed the House on Tuesday and today cleared the Senate Executive Committee.
It would halve the size of all civil juries while hiking juror pay to $25 for the first day of service and $50 a day thereafter.
Thursday is the scheduled end of the veto session — the last chance for legislative action this year. Next month, a new governor and lawmakers will be sworn in.
The measure will head to the full Senate chamber despite concerns about jury diversity and some forceful objections from Republicans who argued it wasn’t vetted and amounts to a “parting gift” for the influential trial lawyers group from outgoing Democratic Gov. Patrick J. Quinn, who lost last month’s election to Bruce Rauner.
Illinois currently utilizes 12-member juries in most civil cases. It uses six-person panels only when the claim for damages is $50,000 or less, unless one of the parties requests a 12-person jury.
State law also currently sets a pay scale for jurors based on county populations, with the smallest counties required to pay jurors at least $4 a day and the largest mandated to spend at least $10.
County boards can set higher rates. Cook County currently pays jurors $17.20 per day.
But that’s not nearly enough, said Joseph A. Power Jr. of Power, Rogers & Smith P.C., who testified for the trial lawyers group in favor of the bill.
“I just think it’s a terrible thing that we’re still paying $17.20,” he told the Senate Executive Committee today. “It’s a fairness issue.”